High. Low. Buffalo.
Hello!
Happy July!
And with that greeting, I have to say what we’re all thinking:
Where did June go?
The past month is a bit of a blur, as I’ve been on the road for most of it, gathering content for articles about golf tourism and travel hotspots and trends from Northern Michigan in the US to Northern Sweden. With a family trip to Madrid and golf trip in and around Barcelona thrown in the mix for good measure.
June ended with a crescendo of travel… the week this newsletter comes out, I’ll have traveled from Spain to Sweden to Spain and back to the US. (Translation, my July 4 will be a jetlagged one.)
The only problem with traveling for a month is that one experience can blend into the next, and when we finally get thrown back into the routine of everyday life back at home, it can be hard to recall all the impressionable moments and great conversations that happened along the way.
So this newsletter is as much for you as it is for me as I take a second to review where I’ve been.
The month started with a golf FAM (familiarization) trip to Gaylord, Michigan. A FAM trip is when a group of golf media and content creators travel to an area (Gaylord’s Golf Mecca in this case) to play golf, stay in local resorts, eat local food, and find out why the world should visit Gaylord. We all then turn around and tell the world exactly why they should do so too.
In a sentence, I’ll tell you that reason- if you’re a golfer, you’ll be happy to find 16 golf courses and 21 lodging options, as well as beaches, boating, fishing, hiking, great food, and famously nice people who live, work, and take great pride in their area. Go to Gaylord Golf Mecca for more information!
That trip went from May 30- June 4, and then Eric and I were back for about thirty seconds - enough to get in a round in our couples golf league, tie up loose ends, pack, and before we knew it we were on a plane bound for Madrid, Spain.
First stop: MADRID
We arrived on June 10 and spent our first day acting like locals in my favorite city. This meant stopping for coffee at the Only You Hotel, and then both of us getting our hair done.
Over the next few days we spent time shopping, working in coffee shops and terraces, and tapa-ing around Madrid. I did my usual routine of always ordering a typical Spanish salad (lettuce, gorgeous tomatoes, tuna, onions, and white asparagus), but my favorite meal was at a sushi place in the Chueca neighborhood.
After a few days with our friends, Eric and I set off for the AirBnB we’d booked. This was a special trip that Eric has been planning for a long time- as his two adult kids and their significant others joined us and we spent the week exploring Madrid, visiting museums, eating tapas, tasting vermouth, and taking day trips.
Tip
If you’re looking for an AirBnB in Madrid, consider the location - near Metro stops, off the main drag, and in an area with activities you want to do- and then look closely at the unit you’re renting. Does it have air? It’s not always standard, and if it does say “AC” check that it’s in all the bedrooms. What about a cleaning service? Good reviews? Here are some more tips to consider before booking an AirBnB in Europe.
Highlights included:
Day trips to Toledo and Segovia on a high speed train
Museum and gallery tours - the Prado (tips on booking tickets here), Reina Sofía, and Fundacion Mapfre. (Book skip the line experiences here.)
Walks through Retiro Park
Shopping - all over! El Corte Inglés, Zara, and Ubiqlo were big hits.
Lots of great conversations and laughs, and a week bonding as a group in the Iberian Peninsula.
And… leading to the title of this newsletter, an introduction to a great trip or life activity that lets you reflect on a day and share it with those you’re with…
HIGH LOW BUFFALO
The activity is called “high, low, buffalo” and how it works is that you sharing a summary of your day based on:
One high, or great thing that happened.
One low, or something that didn’t go as planned or was a little disappointing
One buffalo, or something random you saw or did that totally unexpected.
For example, on our last day in Madrid, we had a late drink/casual dinner at a restaurant near our Air BnB. As we were talking at the table, a bat started circling over our heads.
A bat.
In our restaurant.
Over our table.
As someone who’s particularly horrified of bats (I had one fly into my neck while walking one summer night when I was 19), this was especially disturbing to say the least. In addition to visions of rabies shots in a Madrid… I thought about that bat flying over our food. Como se dice “yuck” in Spanish?
So as you can imagine, the restaurant bat was actually my low and my buffalo - because who expects a bat flying over your patatas bravas? Buffalo.
Right?
We learned about the game early in the week, and it became our nightly ritual. It was fun to go around the group and hear what impressed everyone each day. Everyone had unique memories & experiences, and their retelling allowed us to get a feel for how they experienced the trip. A cool way to bond and share the moments that impressed us.
I highly recommend this activity w your partner, kids, family or friends… whether you’re on vacation or recapping a regular day in your “regular life.”
Next stop: BARCELONA
After a week with the kids in Madrid, Eric and I took a high speed train from Madrid to Barcelona for the work part of the trip, where we were investigating golf courses and resorts and other activities in Costa Brava, Girona, and Barcelona.
We were there thanks to our host, Ian Denham of Barcelona Golf. Our mission was to stay and play at various golf resorts and courses in Costa Brava and Barcelona.
Our itinerary included Camiral - A Quinta do Lago Resort (site of the 2031 Ryder Cup) , Empordá Resort, and a round at Real Club de Golf El Prat, just outside of Barcelona, where we stayed at the Gran Havana Hotel.
In between rounds at these courses, we had a chance to visit two wineries on the outskirts of Barcelona - Familia Torres and Jean Leon. Both are owned by the Torres Family and each has a unique “must visit and experience” appeal that is hard to describe. (Translation: If you’re in Barcelona, you must go to these personally to experience it!)
Watch this video about Jean Leon and you’ll see why I thought it might be coolest boutique winery on the planet. Here’s a documentary to learn about Familia Torres and their five, now going into six generations of passion for wine.
After 4 days in Barcelona… we were off to Sweden for “Golf Under the Midnight Sun.”
And… since that trip is still happening as I write this, you’ll need to stay tuned for a synposis next week. I’ll do an entire special on Northern Sweden, Golfing Under the Midnight Sun, and will tell you all about how the fabulous hospitality we felt everywhere we went in Sweden.
And because I’m still traveling… I’m going to wrap up this newsletter here with a preview of our Sweden trip HIGH LOW BUFFALO STYLE, focusing on Highs only.
HIGHS:
Sweden’s water. It is absolutely the crispest, cleanest, coldest water I’ve ever had in my life. And you can get it anywhere and it’s safe and clean. Cheers to your water, Sweden!
The intentional sustainability practices at all of the places we stayed - Brändön Lodge, Kukkolaforsen Turist & Konference, and Camp Ripan. From their practices to running their lodges to how they prepared and served their food, these venues were class acts.
A 7 (or was it 10?) course lunch served by owner & chef Taz of a fabulous restaurant called Kattilakoski. Taz sources locally whenever possible, and believes in making the most out of every piece of food that enters his kitchen… he is a no waste kind of guy, and his creations are delicious, creative, and as good for you as they are the environment. Shoutout to Ida, our wonderful waitress and wine/non-alcoholic beverage pairing expert!
High times a hundred - these homemade seed crackers and kale pesto and homemade local butter from Camp Ripan.
Get clever with movement- why take a golf cart when you can use an electric bike with a club carrier on the front? This bike was designed in Sweden and outside of Green Zone Golf, the only spot in Sweden where you cross the border four times during a round of golf! (Sweden-Finland)
Another high was the simple decor that was also warm and cozy, like this space at Brändön Lodge where candles create inviting spaces.
Another high… all of the amazing people I met throughout the trip!
And really… I could go on and on. But I’ve got to pack my bags! I’ll see you again next week.
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
